2004 Nov 01

This is a very sad time for our company. One of our founders, Glenn Helwig, passed away on Friday, October 29th. Many of our customers have talked to Glenn on the telephone because he answered our 800 telephone number for years. To us, he was a father, a partner and a friend and we miss him.

Jewelry Making Supplies On Sale:

We update the jewelry supplies that we have "On Sale" with every newsletter. A small sample of the products we have for sale at discounted prices are shown below. Please click on any of the text below the pictures to view our entire list of sale items. Select the picture itself to view that specific item in our Internet store. This sale will be effective through November 12, 2004 or until we run out of that item.

Free Jewelry Making Design:

With every newsletter we provide a new jewelry design from WigJig University to spur the creative juices. The new design for this newsletter is design for the necklace with pendant watch shown at right. This necklace uses a wire component that we call a "Flemish Spiral" as the centerpiece and yoke of the necklace. This necklace is about 28 inches long so that the watch pendant will be easily viewed by the wearer. You can view our instructions for making this necklace by selecting either the picture or the name of the necklace at right.

This necklace project is an advanced beginner's project and uses 18 gauge wire, 22 gauge wire, 6mm beads, 4mm beads (optional), a commercial clasp and a pendant watch. Beginners need to know how to make the wrapped bead link in order to be able to make this necklace. (Instructions for making this link can be found in our online book "Wire Design Basics".)

Past Jewelry Making Techniques:

We maintain a techniques web page that provides links to the discussion of techniques in our prior newsletters. You can visit this web page here. Follow the links on that page to the discussion of the technique in that newsletter.

Jewelry Making Technique:

This weeks jewelry making technique is a review of the technique for cutting wire. We frequently get asked questions over the telephone about how to remove sharp ends from wire. In general, we don't have problems with sharp ends of wire for several reasons. First, we use a good "Flush Cutter" that is sharp.

Second, we always orientate the cutter so that the flat side of the cut is on the finished jewelry component. When a sharp flush cutter cuts wire, one side of the cut wire will be pointed or sharp and the opposite side of the cut wire will be "flush" -- flat and/or dull. By orienting your cutter properly you can ensure that your finished wire component will have blunt or flush cut ends while the sharp ends of the cut wire end up in your trash can.

Third, in most wire jewelry components that we make, we leave the end of the wire hidden within the piece. Many pieces begin and end with a loop. In a loop you can not see the cut end of the wire because it is resting against the wire itself and effectively hidden. In some other pieces, the end of the is wire is wrapped around the wire itself and is tucked into this wrapped wire by squeezing the end with chain nose pliers or bent chain nose pliers.

The one exception to the above is when you are making ear wires. When making pierced ear, ear wires, the end of the must be exposed so that it can be worn. In this case, a tool called the cup bur is used to round the end of the cut wire. Even for ear wires, you cut the wire so that the blunt side of the cut wire is left on the ear wire. Then you round the sides of this wire by using the cup bur tool. Instructions for using the cup bur jewelry tool to round the cut end of jewelry wire can be found here. This week our Cup Bur Premium bits are on sale as you can see our our sale items above.

Jewelry Making: From beginner to expert levels

Welcome to the wonderful world of WigJig Jewelry Making! WigJig.com is your perfect resource for the most beautiful, elegant and fun jewelry making techniques, jewelry making supplies, wire jewelry making advice, jewelry making tools, jewelry making instructions videos and much, much more!
Searching for one, particular technique for making jewelry that suits both your jewelry making skill level and your interest? Explore our WigJig Jewelry Making Learn section to discover clear and versatile jewelry making designs and WigJig patterns for:

Necklace Making

Bracelet Making

Ring Making

Beads

Jewelry Wire

Our unique Learn section will help you find the jewelry making designs and jewelry making techniques intended for your level of jewelry making expertise. You'll learn easy methods for making jewelry that looks beautiful! This outstanding, encyclopedic WigJig University of information is an exclusive jewelry making hub that few jewelry tools vendors or jewelry making techniques resources offer jewelry making experts and beginners.

WigJig has the expert jewelry making advice to help you create the right jewelry for any occasion. Whether it's a for a holiday ornament, birthday present or just a gift to say thank you, WigJig has the jewelry making designs, beads, wire jewelry supplies and jewelry making techniques that are right for you.

WigJig.com has patented WigJig patterns for jewelry making and jewelry making techniques that make your jewelry making designs even easier to complete. WigJig jewelry making jigs are our own you can't find through your average jewelry making class. We also offer jewelry making tools that no one else has - our amazingly helpful WigJig jewelry making jigs! Our WigJig jigs help you with making jewelry effortlessly and other WigJig jewelry making tools are helpful for anyone, whether you're a beginner who's new to jewelry making or up at the Intermediate levels of jewelry making and wire jewelry expertise.

So explore, enjoy, learn and create! Let WigJig.com inspire you and your jewelry making creativity to take flight!